a spiritual journey

Written byjoshua becker ·

although i get a little nervous saying this, this path to become minimalist has become a spiritual journey for me. i get nervous about that because i realize that this ups the anty in my journey. before it was just about deliberating getting organized and choosing a new design style for my home. but now it’s about living a life that is honoring to the God who created me. choosing a design style, i’m okay if i screw that up. but not honoring God with my life, that’s a mistake i want to stay away from…

dallas willard defined discipleship this way, “trying to live your life the way Jesus would live your life.” i really like that. it’s a helpful thought for me. i don’t have to try and relive Jesus’ life exactly how he lived it – He already lived that life. instead, i need to take the life that God has given to me and ask the question, “how would Jesus live it if he were living my life?” with that in mind, i look around my home and wonder, “is this what Jesus’s house would look like if he were living my life? would his closet look this full? would his kitchen have this many gadgets? would he have spent as much on home furnishings and decorations as i have?” most of the time, i answer in the negative.

it seems to me the minimalist life is more in-tune with the life that Jesus would live. and therefore, this journey has become very spiritual for me and that makes me excited and nervous.

About Joshua Becker

Writer. Inspiring others to live more by owning less.WSJ Bestselling author of The More of Less.

Comments

Thank you for sharing your journey with us. We have been confronted and challenged with many of the same issues. Truthfully, I have never known if our minimalist tendencies were out of necessity because of our ‘vocation’, but you have encouraged me to remember that it is much more than that. Timely, as we begin a year in America!

Praise God for you. For a while it seemed like this mutual journey of ours appeared as lonesome. While some may consider minimalism as OCD, I on the other hand lavish it to the core. Minimalism is extensive towards reducing the clutter of life: relationships, weight loss, finance, and simply “turning down the noise.”

Minimalism has enhanced my walk with God as a Bible believing Christian, when even the Written Word warns the redeemed against all covetousness, that a man’s (or woman’s) life is not measured by the things he (or she) possesses.

Christ Himself is the perfect example of obtaining personal harmony and Zen “laying not treasures here on earth”…, but in heaven by advancing His kingdom through his Gospel, our trials, and victories in life.

A person’s humble abode (home) is their temple. Some can declare it as their palace, kingdom – whatever floats their boat. But the idea of pursuing minimalism starts in the mind, the home and wherever the journey takes us. The home is to become ordered to express “Holy Sprit, Lord Most High – You are ever so welcome here.” Without His sweet Presence, our walk with Christ is pointless!! It’s like showing up for your lunch date but only to get stood up ( aka no show no call.)

Clutter, disorder, and anarchy, even on a psychological level, suggests diabolical activity. “The battle-field is always for the mind.”

But please do not misunderstand my convictions. It’s not wrong to have possessions, as long as whatever they possess does not possess themselves (mortgage, car payments, credit card)
The rule of thumb is respecting the space, the freedom of movement in the home, and the soundness of structure and aesthetic (beauty) speak for itself.

Rule 1: to determine how a person thinks, observe their living spaces.

Rule 2: to determine a person’s future, consider their activity and close associations.

So if anyone reading wonders “does minimalism violate the doctrines of Christianity?” The answer is a resounding no. On the contrary, it enhances a person’s ability to focus on what matters most for their life.

“No one can run a race unless eliminating some obstacles.
let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily.” Hebrews 12:1

“since God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the churches of the saints” 1 Corinthains 14:33

Thank you. I have down-sized to about 1/3 of my furniture and stuff, moved into a 658 sq ft tiny home and have so much room. I prayed all the way and the Lord showed me the path to take. I even have enough room for my rescue dog. One book that also inspired me was the chicken soup book the joy of living with less. I am excited about Jesus has planned for my future. Kathleen

I agree. We are supposed to live Christ-like lives, and Jesus set the ultimate example. He made people the priority, not things. He did so to the extent of not having a house, but only owning the clothes on His back, and the sandals on His feet, and doing absolutely everything for others. Minimalist/Simple living is a step in the right direction for us all.

I know this post is super old, but I’m reading your journey from the beginning, as I’m the mom of two little ones living a suburban lifestyle and trying to minimize. Your blog, especially these old posts, is so inspiring. I’m wondering if your wife has become a minimalist “convert” over the last few years? My husband rolls his eyes at me when I’m purging the house. But he’s a good sport. I guess that means there’s hope! I’m printing out this post because as strong christian, I totally agree with it and want to keep it as inspiration. Thank you!

I too, stumbled onto this blog because of a link from another. I appreciate so much your encouragement on minimalism from a family standpoint. I am a mom of two, and am currently trying to find ways to pare down our household to only the essentials. And I want one of the main essentials in our household and in my daily life to be pursuing the heart of God. That is what drives me to get rid of clutter, free up our schedules and our finances to that end. Thank you for what you are doing!

Hi. I am walking the same path for the same reason. It started with a “rock bottom” moment, and Jesus came to me through the voice of my eldest daughter (we have three), Avery. She asked me about God, and I realized I’d strayed far from His path. We began implementing lifestyle changes in several areas and, only after a few months of cherishing togetherness, less spending/consuming, more praying and exercising I came across this new (to me anyway) word: minimalism.

I’ve subscribed and will be a reader and supporter. Thank you for the inspiration, and my prayers are with you and your family on your journey.

Just for the record, atheists and humanists can also embrace a lifestyle of meaningful simplicity and minimalism. As an agnostic Zen Buddhist, I honor all faith traditions as long as said faith does not seek to harm others but I did want to speak on behalf of the community of non-theists.

Just found your blog through a friend. LOVE this post. The truth is, everything in this life is a spiritual journey, because everything we say and do comes from that Spirit within. This post leads me to ask, “Am I honoring God with my home?”

Thank you SO much for this post! Just an hour or so ago I wrote in my journal that this minimalism has become spiritual and that I’m not sure what that looks or feels like. It too made me nervous. I clicked to look through some of your older posts and voila! Thank you again for your openness!!

When we get rid of all the necessary things in life, we have more room and time to realize how much we really do have. For myself, this includes more room and time for Christ. Our culture makes us feel like we constantly need more…more clothes, more cars, etc. Christ has us live counter-culturally…we have EVERYTHING in and through Christ.
The ironic thing about living minimally, or living for Christ, is that it’s not “minimal” at all :-)

You can get your inspiration from any figure who practiced minimalism. Henry David Thoreau was one of mine. If I were to make a suggestion to your site, if you would make it easier to go through your posts by having next post links on each page, it would be a big help. Having to keep going back to the archives to read your next post is a bit cumbersome. Even Leo at Zen Habits does this and he is one of the ultimate minimalists. Just a suggestion, but an important one.